VIDEO: Salcombe RNLI and SailFunk Yachting come to the aid of a lone sailor

Salcombe RNLI launched at midday on Friday to a "lone male dinghy sailor in difficulty". 

The dingy sailor in a Laser called Falmouth Coastguard after getting into difficulty on a leg of a charity sail along the south coast.

RNLI arriving on scene - credit Neil Lawrence of SailFunk Yachting 

Neil Lawrence of SailFunk Yachting, was in the area when they heard the Mayday from Falmouth Coastguard. He said: "[The sailor] couldn’t tack for fear of flipping the boat so carried on sailing further out to sea. On that Friday he was intending to sail a leg of his planned passage along the south coast to raise money for a charity he supports.

"The RNLI escorted the chap back part of the way; I understand that as he tired they deployed the Y boat and got him [aboard]. It sure whether they towed the dinghy back or out that on board too as we’d left the scene by then.

"Sailfunk Yachting responded to a Mayday call from Falmouth Coastguard of a report of a lone sailor in a small dinghy in difficulty approx four miles south of Prawle Point."

A tourist on the SailFunk vessel took this video of the RNLI arriving on scene: 

A spokesperson for Salcombe RNLI said: "Salcombe ALB launched at midday on Friday to reports of a ‘Lone male dinghy sailor’ in difficulties 4nm SE of Prawle Point. On scene and with unfavourable sea conditions, the decision was made to launch the ALB Y boat with two crew members onboard, to assist the Laser Dinghy safely back into Salcombe."